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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes

Make a shadow bigger or smaller

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.1-PS4-3England: KS2 Y3 Light

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Make a shadow bigger or smaller.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: How shadows form when light is blocked

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Slinky or rope, Mirrors and torches, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (How shadows form when light is blocked). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. On a cloudy day with no sunshine, why is it hard to see your shadow? (The light comes from all over the sky, so it is not blocked in one place. / People have no shadows in winter. / The clouds take your shadow away. / Shadows only happen at night.) → The light comes from all over the sky, so it is not blocked in one place.Prompt: A sharp shadow needs light coming from one direction.
  2. True or false? Shadows are made of black paint. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: What does an object do to light to make a shadow?
  3. Shadows: which statement is true? (The shadow of a cup has the shape of a triangle. / If you move the torch (flashlight) to the left, the shadow moves to the right. / A shadow shows your face and your eyes. / Shadows point towards the light.) → If you move the torch (flashlight) to the left, the shadow moves to the right.Prompt: Picture a torch, a toy and a wall.

Hook · 5 min

  • Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
  • Share the objective: Make a shadow bigger or smaller. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: In a shadow puppet show, how can you make the puppet's shadow BIGGER on the screen?
  • Step 1: Closer to the light → bigger shadow.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Move the puppet closer to the light.
  • Answer: Move the puppet closer to the light.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. In a shadow puppet show, how can you make the puppet's shadow BIGGER on the screen? (Turn the light off. / Move the puppet closer to the light. / Paint the puppet black. / Move the puppet closer to the screen.) → Move the puppet closer to the light.Prompt: When the puppet is near the lamp, it blocks a wider spread of light.
  2. True or false? Moving a puppet away from the light makes its shadow bigger. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Picture a puppet near the lamp and then near the screen.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. True or false? Moving a puppet away from the light makes its shadow bigger. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Picture a puppet near the lamp and then near the screen.
  2. At what time of a sunny day is your shadow shortest? (just after sunrise / it is always the same length / around midday / just before sunset) → around middayPrompt: When is the Sun highest in the sky?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: How shadows form when light is blocked.
  • Use concrete materials: slinky or rope.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-1.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Make a shadow bigger or smaller

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? Late afternoon shadows are longer than midday shadows.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    How can you make a shadow SMALLER and sharper?

    • A. Move the object right next to the light.
    • B. Use a bigger object.
    • C. Shake the object.
    • D. Move the object closer to the screen, away from the light.

  3. Question 3

    Noah moved a toy away from a torch (flashlight). At which distance was the shadow tallest?

    Shadow height (cm) for each distance from the torch0102030405060706410 cm5220 cm3830 cm2840 cm
    • A. 10 cm
    • B. 20 cm
    • C. 30 cm
    • D. 40 cm

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Shadows change length during a sunny day.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Why is your shadow long in the early morning?

    • A. The Sun is directly overhead.
    • B. The ground is wet.
    • C. You grow in the night.
    • D. The Sun is low in the sky.

  6. Question 6

    Noah moved a toy away from a torch (flashlight) and measured its shadow on the wall. How much taller was the shadow at 10 cm than at 40 cm?

    Shadow height (cm) for each distance from the torch0102030405060706410 cm5420 cm4230 cm2840 cm

    Answercm

  7. Question 7

    True or false? Moving an object towards a lamp makes its shadow grow.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    In a shadow puppet show, how can you make the puppet's shadow BIGGER on the screen?

    • A. Turn the light off.
    • B. Paint the puppet black.
    • C. Move the puppet closer to the light.
    • D. Move the puppet closer to the screen.

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Answer key: Make a shadow bigger or smaller

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. D. Move the object closer to the screen, away from the light.

  3. 3. A. 10 cm

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. D. The Sun is low in the sky.

  6. 6. 36 cm

  7. 7. A. True

  8. 8. C. Move the puppet closer to the light.